1. Arthur Miller’s
The Crucible

2. Background Information
The true story of the Salem witch trials

3. Salem, Massachusetts, 1692
May of 1692, a small group of girls in Salem fell ill, claiming hallucinations and seizures
In Puritan New England, mysteries like this were considered the work of the Devil
News spread of the illness, and people began to whisper about witches being the cause of the illness

4. Self Preservation
If the girls were caught lying about witches, they would have been hanged for it
In order to save their own necks, they began accusing other townspeople of being the witches
They began by accusing the ne’er-do-wells of the town
The drunks, the slaves, the people no one liked

5. She’s a WITCH!
Soon other residents took up the cause, and began accusing people they’d carried grudges against or were jealous of
If your neighbor was convicted of witchcraft, his land would go up for auction
The theocratic Massachusetts government had to get involved, including trials for those accused of witchcraft

6. The Costs of Accusations
By September, over 150 people were in jail, awaiting trial
During that time, many people lost their lives
19 people (and 2 dogs) were hanged
One elderly man was pressed to death by stones
He refused to cooperate with the court
Five died in prison waiting for trial

7. Background Information
Jump forward 150 years to Arthur Miller

8. Early Life & Schooling Born in New York City in 1915
Family was financially well off until the stock market crashed in 1929
Seeing the Depression and the misery it caused had a big impact on the way he saw the world
Dropped out of high school
Worked as a shipping clerk in an auto parts warehouse
Persuaded University of Michigan to accept him for English, drama, and journalism
Graduated 1938

9. Fame & Notoriety Wrote over 50 different works
Radio plays
Novels
Articles
17 plays
Death of a Salesman earned him a Pulitzer Prize after opening in 1949
First piece to gain Miller international fame

10. Personal Life First marriage to Mary Slattery in 1940
Divorced her to marry Marilyn Monroe in 1956 after an affair
Pushed him to public attention
Divorced in 1961

11. Background Info
The Red Scare

12. The Red Scare Senator Joseph McCarthy rose to power in the 1950s
Propelled the US into a hunt for the communists hiding in the US
Conducted Senate hearings to “flush out” any suspected communists from the government and public life, including the arts

13. More Fake Accusations
Many people who were accused made false confessions in order to save themselves
Many people also accused their friends in order to receive a lighter sentence
These false confessions made it seem like the US had a lot more communists than in reality

14. The Communist Artists? The entertainment industry was very liberal
Became a target and some were called to testify
Those who refused to incriminate their friends were placed on the Hollywood Blacklist
Denied employment based on their “communist sympathies”

15. Miller’s Testimony
Called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956
Never a member of the communist party
Advocated for equality among the classes and social justic for all
Testified about his own experiences, but refused to discuss the work of his colleagues
Blacklisted, but was eventually removed

16. The Crucible and the Red Scare
Written in 1958 (during the Red Scare)
Set in 1692 (during the Salem witch trials)
Wanted to show how paranoia can negatively affect a society
Highlighted how rational judgment is suspended through paranoia
Showed that people who challenged the courts were suspected of communism/witchcraft

17. Background Info
Literary Devices

18. Literary Devices for this Unit
Stage Directions
Dramatic Exposition
Dialogue
Allusions
Universal & Cultural Significance
Irony
Dramatic, Situational, and Verbal
Allegory

19. Stage Directions
Tells the actors and directors information about how to produce the play
Where does the scene take place?
What does the setting look like?
How should the characters move and talk?
Italicized in the book so you don’t read them aloud
Examples
There is a narrow window at the left…
TITUBA, already taking a step backward: My Betty…

20. Dramatic Exposition
Conveys information for the director and/or the audience that is necessary to understand the play’s purpose
Setting
Characters
Social or historical context
No italics in the book, but not read aloud
Example
At the time of these events Parris was in his…

21. Dialogue The words directly spoken by characters in a play
These follow a character’s name, which identifies who is doing the speaking
No italics in the book, as these are read aloud
Examples
PARRIS: Out of here!